Regional Meeting Message
Job 19:23-27 Oh that my words were now written! Oh that they were engraved in a book! Oh that they were cut with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever! For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall rise on the earth at the last; and even after they corrupt my skin, yet this: in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not a stranger’s; though my heart be exhausted in my bosom.
These are the words Job uttered while he was at extreme distress. Even in this situation Job did not give up hope. He declares his hope and desire in four statements! Let us meditate on these verses.
- Oh that my words were now written! Oh they were engraved in a book!
After satan got permission to test Job he was pushed to such devastation that there was no one to understand him; No one to answer him. Believed to have lived in 2000-1200 B.C., in a time zone when writing diary was not a common practice, Job yearned his words to be preserved and to be passed on to generations. The only method to preserve them was to cut it on a stone or rock. He cries out his desire even though there was no one to execute it! But heaven heard it and an immediate command comes from heaven! His words were recorded in heaven by angels. When the proper time came, it was added to the Bible . All generations read these words in Bible.
- Oh that they were cut with an iron pen and lead in the rock forever!
Job not only wants his words to be written, but also to preserve them for ever!. He wanted the whole humanity to listen to it! Not only people of his generation, but all human beings who are going to be born and live on this earth at all times in all ages! So he wants them to be cut on stone! In olden days , historic incidents were carved on rocks and stones so that it will not be erased by climatic conditions or human hands. When the Lord gave the ten commandments, it was engraved on tablets.
1. Exodus 31:18: “When the Lord finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, inscribed by the finger of God.”
2. Exodus 32:15-16: “Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.”
There are archaeological evidences to demonstrate that ancient civilizations used stone inscriptions to record important texts.
The declaration to be carved on stone.
What was this great revelation which Job wanted to inscribe on stone? It is given in Job 19:25-27
- For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall rise on the earth at the last.
The words Job wanted to inscribe on rock was this great truth!
- My Redeemer lives! (Job 19:25
- He shall rise on the earth at the last!
- And even after they corrupt my skin, yet this: in my flesh I shall see God,
- Whom I shall see for myself,
- And my eyes shall behold, and not a stranger’s;
- Though my heart be exhausted in my bosom.
Job received the greatest revelation which no other saint in the Old Testament period received. It was given to him during the most distressful hour of his life!
There was no hope of his living any more in this world.
Dear Soldiers, Are you going through distress, failures, hopelessness, mountain like hazardous situations?
Say with Job,
My Redeemer lives!
Who taught Job about Redeemer, Salvation? Second Coming? Resurrection of body etc?
While he was in the furnace of sufferings, he received this great revelations!
As we conduct systematic studies in Troop Church, Gift Schools, Fullness in Christ, BFF, OTP etc. the Lord taught Job in His Academy of sufferings and he came out as a successful candidate with credentials!
He speaks out to the whole world the great truths of the New Testament!
- The power of Resurrection (V 25)
- Second coming of Jesus Christ to the earth (V 25) – He shall rise on earth at the last
- Resurrection of body – V 26) In my flesh I shall see God –
- And my eyes shall behold, and not a stranger’s; (V 27)
- Though my heart be exhausted in my bosom (v 27)
- Whom I shall see for myself (Eternal Life)
When we face with negative situations, opposition, failures, insults, humiliations , the Lord will teach us the hardest truths in life! Let’s stay with Him till we become overcomers and achieve a full restoration like Job.